Vasundhara Raje becomes Rajasthan BJP chief, to lead party in Assembly polls

New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday virtually named Vasundhara Raje its Chief Ministerial candidate in Rajasthan. Following a meet in the capital, BJP president Rajnath Singh declared Vasundhara Raje as the state BJP chief and her rival within the party, Gulab Chand Kataria, as the Leader of Opposition.

Speaking to reporters, Rajnath Singh said, "Arunji (Arun Chaturvedi, Rajasthan BJP president since 2009) has given his resignation. Vasundharaji will stand for BJP chief. The whole Rajasthan party will stand together as one."

Meanwhile, Raje said, "We will win with flying colours. Everyone has a stand in this party. We will make the party strong. Me and Gulab Chandji will try our best to improve the party. The decision that the party has taken, I am totally with it. I believe that we will win. It's not only a party but it's a family, and everyone has the position and importance."

A beaming Vasundhara Raje declared that the BJP will win in the upcoming elections and that the party will stand united.

Gulab Chand Kataria added, "We have decided to unite our party and work with it. All the workers should be treated equally and with understanding. We should work together. We will try to give a direction to the party."

The announcement is being seen as part of the party's efforts to end dissidence in its state unit. The tenure of the 200-member current Assembly in Rajasthan ends on December 31, 2013.

With additional information from PTI

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